Business Briefs

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, May 7, 2001

Many people rely on glasses and contacts to correct their vision, but some find these methods inconvenient, uncomfortable or unattractive.

LASIK WARNING:

Many people rely on glasses and contacts to correct their vision, but some find these methods inconvenient, uncomfortable or unattractive.

Lasik eye surgery is one of the newest procedures to correct vision problems. But, before you sign up for the surgery, the Better Business Bureau, along with the Federal Trade Commission, suggests you know the facts:

* Lasik is surgery to a very delicate part of the eye.

* Hundreds of thousand of people have had Lasik, most very successfully.

* As with any surgery there are risks and possible complications.

* Lasik may not give patients perfect vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) reports that seven out of 10 patients achieve 20/20 vision, but 20/20 does not always mean perfect vision.

* Lasik is too new to know if there are any long-term ill effects beyond five years after surgery.

* Lasik surgery cannot be reversed.

* If patients have Lasik to correct their distance vision, they'll still need reading glasses around age 45.

* Patients may need additional surgery - called "enhancements" - to get the best possible vision after Lasik.

Only ophthalmologists (eye doctors) are permitted to perform Lasik. Before undergoing Lasik surgery, ask the following questions:

* How long have you been doing Lasik surgery?

* How much experience do you have with the Lasik procedure?

* What laser will you be using for my surgery? Make sure the surgeon is using a laser approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

* What's involved in after-surgery care?

* Who will handle after-surgery care? Who will be responsible?

Consulting the eye doctor is critical to making an informed decision. The most satisfied laser surgery patient is one who has realistic expectations and a thorough understanding of the risks and possible complications of Lasik surgery.

For more information about vision correction procedures, contact the American Academy of Ophthalmology, PO Box 7424, San Francisco, CA 94120-7424; or visit www.eyenet.org online.

If patients have a complaint, contact the Better Business Bureau at 713-868-9500, 1-800-275-3626, or by visiting the Bureau online at www.bbbhou.org. Also, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit their Web site at www.ftc.gov.

Honored:

Sande Vickroy has been named Employee of the Month for April at Tomball Regional Medical Center. Vickroy is a certified rehabilitation registered nurse and has been with the hospital six years.

Petitioned:

The Office of Texas Attorney General John Cornyn filed a petition April 17 on behalf of The University of Texas School of Law asking the United State's Supreme Court to review the case of "Hopwood v. Texas."

The petition seeks review of an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit that prohibits any consideration of race in law school admissions.

The petition seeks permission for the School of Law at UT Austin to use race as one factor among others in admissions decisions in order to assure diversity among the student population. The School of Law currently uses a range of factors such as grades, test scores, work experience, military service, regional origin and past economic or social disadvantage.

The University is represented in the case by Attorney General Cornyn, the Houston law firm of Vinson & Elkins, Professor Douglas Laycock of the UT School of Law and Professor Samuel Issacharoff at Columbia University.

Richard L. Perryman, Acting State Director of the Texas United State's Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development office announced that federal funds are now available for Guaranteed Rural Housing loans.

Borrowers can often get these loans with no down payment. To be eligible for financing, the home must be located in a rural community with less than 10,000 in population, on a farm or in open country not closely associated with an urban area. Under certain circumstances loans can be made in towns and cities between 10,000 and 25,000 in population.

The guaranteed rural housing loan may be used to finance new or existing homes that are structurally sound and have adequate mechanical, electrical, plumbing and insulation systems.

The loan may be made for up to 100-percent of the market value. There is no down payment required. The lender may loan some closing costs depending on the appraisal. Theoretically, someone could move into a home for zero out of pocket expenses.

Typically, however, not all the costs associated with buying a home can be financed.

All loans must be secured by a first lien on a residential property.

Interested homebuyers, lenders, realtors, or builders should, contact the Huntsville Office at 936-291-1901, extension 4 for more information on the USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Loan program as well as the availability of other agency programs. USDA Rural Development is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Provider, and Employer.

Complaints of discrimination should be sent to: Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410.